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One-quarter of the Couillard cabinet is in France this week, while the government preaches austerity for Quebecers back home. That's the kind of political error usually committed by a government that's been in power too long.

Premier Philippe Couillard’s new “Bolduc rule” forbidding his cabinet ministers from speaking to reporters before the morning meeting of the Liberal caucus signals a cabinet shuffle in which Education Minister Yves Bolduc will be demoted. But while the premier has made Bolduc the scapegoat after the education minister’s latest error, the government’s communication problem starts with Couillard himself.

Three years ahead of the next election and Pierre Karl Péladeau has laid out the ballot question on a silver platter, Premier Philippe Couillard said Thursday. "I couldn't have asked for anything more," a beaming Couillard told reporters suggesting an election fought by Péladeau could resemble an election-referendum. "The PQ has laid it all out. I want to personally thank the Parti Québécois.

QUEBEC Treasury Board President Martin Coiteux restated the need for sacrifice to break the “anti-prosperity cycle” in which Quebec finds itself. As he spoke, hundreds of protesters crowded in front of the assembly to denounce government cutbacks. “We’re not taking this (budgetary) exercise lightheartedly,” Coiteux said facing TV cameras in a news conference. “The government is totally, perfectly conscious of the […]

The government is not wrong in wanting to rein in exploding costs, reorganize the health system and eliminate the formidable bureaucracy that encumbers services. But the way they are going about it — without ample consultation and with little regard for constructive criticism — threatens to compromise their objectives in the long run.

Hello and welcome to The Story So Far for Thursday, Feb. 5. Click on the audio player below to hear the rundown on some of the stories we’re following for you today. And remember, you can listen to all of our podcasts here or on iTunes, and follow us on Facebook for the latest from montrealgazette.com.

The long process of revamping the province's immigration policies got off to a sobering start Wednesday when provincial human rights officials said racism and discrimination persist in Quebec's workplaces.

At a press conference, Bellucci said the reason she’s here shooting Ville-Marie is simple. She was blown away by Édoin’s screenplay and loved the role he was proposing for her. She was even more sold on coming here to work with Édoin after she watched Marécages.